Jaron Long Comes Into His Own With New Organization

By showing an improved curveball and using his changeup as a wipeout pitch, righthander Jaron Long has become a more successful pitcher since he was released by the Yankees in April 2016.

“I think with some people, it just takes a little longer—takes more reps,” said the 25-year-old Long, who went 2-3, 2.20 in five April starts at Double-A Harrisburg with 23 strikeouts and five walks in 28.2 innings. “Some people come into their own at different points in their careers.”

The Yankees signed Long in August 2013 as a nondrafted free agent out of Ohio State. He made it as far as Triple-A in their system. The 6-foot, 190-pound Long is the son of Mets hitting coach Kevin Long, who served the same role for the Yankees from 2007-14.

Though Jaron’s four-seam fastball tops out at about 91 mph, he makes the most of a repertoire that includes a two-seamer, slider, curveball and changeup.

Long was out of baseball for 20 days before the Nationals signed him last year. He then recorded a 3.20 ERA in 107 innings at Triple-A Syracuse and Harrisburg.

“Jaron is picking up where he left off last year,” Harrisburg pitching coach Chris Michalak said. “He has a real good changeup with good movement and good late action. He changes speeds, locates his fastball and has command.”

Long said his father was “protective of me,” even in an era in which pitch limits were not as common in youth baseball.

“I didn’t really start pitching until I was 15, which was good for me,” Long said. “By the time I was finished with my first year of college (at Chandler-Gilbert CC in Arizona), I knew I was a pitcher first. To me, the guys who can play both ways in college are very gifted players, and I respect what they do.

“But I like the idea of pitching . . . I like the cat-and-mouse game of being a pitcher.”

— Lacy Lusk is a writer based in Virginia